Nigel Winterburn believes Crystal Palace are getting a "leader" in Patrick Vieira after the Frenchman was appointed as the club's new manager.
Vieira is widely regarded as one of the Premier League's greatest ever midfielders after an exquisite nine year spell with Arsenal.
Combining rugged physicality with impeccable skill, Vieira was an archetypal defensive midfielder who laid the groundwork for successors such as Claude Makelele and N'Golo Kante.
Vieira managing OGC Nice
Vieira inherited the Arsenal captaincy following the retirement of Tony Adams in 2002, and would lead the club through their Invicibles' campaign of 2003/04.
Following spells in charge of New York City FC and Nice, Vieira has now returned to England with Palace after Roy Hodgson departed the south London club at the end of last season.
Winterburn played seven seasons and won two Premier League titles with Vieira at Arsenal.
And when asked what type of character Palace would be getting in their new manager, Winterburn told TribalFootball.com, on behalf of Netbet: "He's a leader, he has strong beliefs, and he won't take any messing around.
"It's hard to judge him from player to manager, but he's got the credentials as a player to make that transition to being a manager.
Vieira, Pires, Henry & Cole
"Not all great players turn out to be good managers, but there's an opportunity for him after having a taster in America and France.
"Over time we will see how he wants to play, but I'm looking forward to watching them."
Palace finished 14th in Hodgson's final campaign, extending the club's current run in the top-flight to eight seasons.
Eagles chief Steve Parish has said they are committed to backing Vieira in the transfer market, but Winterburn believes his former teammate must focus on avoiding relegation over ascending up the table.
"Like a lot of the clubs, it's important they avoid being in a relegation battle and see where they can get up to," Winterburn added.
"If they can finish mid table under his first season with the huge player changes at the club, then I believe that's a pretty decent start.
"I don't know the ambitions of Crystal Palace, but with a new manager in his first experience of the Premier League as a manager, avoiding that relegation battle will be a success."